Brent Cox wants state government to operate more like a business
News March 19, 2022
In the coming days, Fetch Your News will present information on the candidates who have qualified for the May 24 General Primary Election to help voters make informed votes.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Republican Brent Cox, a family man, football coach, certified teacher and hardworking entrepreneur who has owned, managed, and led business ventures for over 24 years, announced his campaign for House District 28 last week.
“Guided by conservative, common-sense principles, I aim to make our state government work more like a business and make the tough decisions,” he said. “For example, in the face of unprecedented growth in our area, I am committed to working with other business and civic leaders to develop a comprehensive and cost-effective growth plan for the next 10 to 15 years and ensure we receive the funding at the state level to implement it.
“This plan should embrace economic opportunity and private investment, which will lead to more jobs without overwhelming our current infrastructure or raising taxes,” Cox added. “Less is more. Less government. More freedom.”
After attending Milton High School, Cox graduated from the University of Georgia in 1994 then began a successful career in the food service industry where he designed, engineered, and sold ventilation hood systems to chain restaurants on a global scale for over two decades. He now serves as the President of Simple Mission in Cumming, a company that serves as a manufacturer’s representative in the food service industry.
Cox says roads and education will be key issues in the 2022 campaign.
On roads: He said, “For District 28, I believe the most important issue is roads. Ensuring we finish the roads in our community – Highway 9 to Browns Bridge, Matt Highway and roads like it into Hall County, making sure we get the proper funding to fix these roads is very important. Also, making sure our infrastructure is up to speed is important.”
On education: He supports school choice. “I believe parents should have the ability to make decisions as to what is best for their children. They should be able to choose a public school, private school, or home schooling.”
On CRT and DEI: He said, “I do not believe CRT and DEI should be part of the curriculum in schools. CRT divides people and it doesn’t teach that we are all human. Let’s stop dividing people.”
On obscenity in public school libraries: Cox said he wants books and other material that contain obscene and explicit material removed. “There is free speech. I get it. But, we have do what is in the best interest of the kids.”
On transgender athletes participating in girls’ or women’s sports: Cox said, “Absolutely not.” He spent 12 years as a football coach in Forsyth and Dawson County at the high school and middle school level. “As a coach, we have made great strides in women’s and girls’ sports at the high school, collegiate and olympic level. Ultimately we would be robbing the women and girls of the opportunity or motivation to compete and to feel like they have a fair chance. To me, it would be totally against Title IX.”
Brent and his wife Tonya have been married since 1993. Together, they have three children (Anson, Wesley, and Lydia), one daughter-in-law (Teresa), and one grandchild (Hannah). Brent and Tonya attend Free Chapel Church in Gainesville.
Local pharmacist will campaign for State House in District 28
News March 13, 2022
NOTE: In the coming days, Fetch Your News will present information on the candidates who have qualified for the May 24 General Primary Election to help voters make informed votes.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Tim Short is a strong conservative leader, pharmacist, business owner husband and father who is running for the Georgia House of Representatives in District 8.
A lifelong Georgian, Tim has a strong work ethic. He started working as a soda jerk at a local pharmacy when he was a young lad of 14 years old. Apparently he took to the business because it was just a few years later, he attended the University of Georgia where he eventually graduated from UGAs Pharmacy School.
While in college, he met his wife Rita and upon graduation, they moved to Cumming and made it their home. Tim went to work at Goodson Drugs until 1988 when he opened Sawnee Drug Company and has been running it ever since.
Tim has developed strong leadership skills as member, leader and chairman of several pharmaceutical organizations like Georgia Pharmacy Association, Academy of Independent Pharmacies and the National Community Pharmacy Association. Those leadership roles, he says, have prepared him to be a state representative.
A pro-life, pro-Constitution pro-law enforcement Republican, he says he will never back down in defense of our constitutional rights and will ensure our law enforcement officers have the resources they need to keep our families and communities safe. He also wants to protect our school children “We must keep indoctrination and propaganda out of our classrooms, and we must protect local control and the rights of District 28 parents,” he said.
As business owner for 30 years, he has learned first-hand that business thrives when government is limited and he is committed to keeping Georgia he No. 1 state in the U.S. to do business.
Tim and Rita have two sons and a grandson and they attend Browns Bridge Church.
Pharmacist and business owner Tim Short qualifies for State House Dist. 28
News March 8, 2022
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Tim Short, a business owner, community leader and independent pharmacist, who has run Sawnee Drug Company for more than 30 years, was one of five Republicans to qualify to run in the new State House District 28 race Monday.
“I am running to offer this district trusted experience, transparency in leadership and representation that preserves the conservative values of our community,” Short stated.
Through his work as a pharmacist and involvement in professional associations, Tim has taken a role in government affairs, informing legislation that serves the best interests of Georgians. Most recently, he helped steer policy that improved transparency and reduced the costs of prescription drugs by holding Pharmacy Benefit Managers more accountable for their detrimental healthcare practices.
A lifelong Georgian, he began working at the local pharmacy at age 14 before he graduated from the Pharmacy School at University of Georgia. Throughout his career, he has served as a member, leader and Chairman within the boards of various organizations and was recognized as the Academy of Independent Pharmacy Pharmacist of the Year.
Short and his wife Rita have two sons and one grandson. They continue to reside in Forsyth County and attend Browns Bridge Church where he has taken on additional leadership and service roles.
Gov. Kemp and UGA Provide Overview of CARES Act Funding
Business, News April 2, 2020
Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp and the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provided an overview of the funding allocated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This critical funding will help small businesses keep workers employed during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Through the University of Georgia’s 17 Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the state has launched an information website to provide guidance on accessing a variety of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) programs.
Beginning April 6, these state partners will host a series of web-based information sessions tailored to each region of the state. In addition, SBDC will be available to assist businesses, where necessary.
The CARES Act provides funds for SBA to aid small businesses through its network of private small business lenders. Georgia has more than 70 qualified SBA lenders, and detailed information about the following vital lending programs can also be found HERE.
“Small businesses are the engine of Georgia’s economy and provide economic opportunity for millions of Georgia families,” said Governor Kemp. “As we continue to fight the spread of COVID-19, this critical resource will provide a lifeline to small businesses across our state. I am encouraging all Georgians to support their local businesses in this difficult time. We will get through this together.”
“The Georgia Department of Economic Development is continuing to work with our partners statewide to confront COVID-19 and move forward together,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “We thank Governor Kemp, DCA, and SBDC for working together with us to better and more efficiently serve our state’s small businesses at this time of great need.”
“DCA is proud to work with our state partners to support the small businesses that are such a vital part of the communities we serve,” said DCA Commissioner Christopher Nunn.
“The University of Georgia has a strong track record of helping to develop new small businesses across the state. Assisting these firms to navigate COVID-19 aligns perfectly with our land-grant mission,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead.
Kemp and UGA’s SBDC released a list of SBA lenders.
Small Business Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
A new $349 billion lending program under the existing SBA 7(a) program. The SBA guarantee of PPP loans will be 100 percent through the end of 2020. PPP loan payments will be deferred for a minimum of six and up to twelve months. Loans will be administered through local and regional banks; any federally regulated bank may become an SBA lender for this purpose. The Department of the Treasury will issue regulations for these loans quickly.
| ▪ | Eligibility: Small businesses as defined by SBA size standards, generally up to 500 employees, but up to 1,500 depending on the sector; sole proprietors, the self-employed, and independent contractors. |
| ▪ | The interest rate will not exceed 4 percent; currently fixed at 0.5 percent. |
| ▪ | Regulatory streamlining: SBA’s standard “no credit elsewhere” test is waived, no personal guarantee or collateral required, and no additional fees will be applied to these loans. |
| ▪ | Size of loans: Up to $10 million. Loan amount is based on recent payroll costs, compensation paid to individuals, including those who are self-employed. Compensation in excess of $100,000 per year to any individual is excluded. |
| ▪ | Requirements: The business must certify the loan will be used to retain workers, maintain payroll, make mortgage or lease payments, and pay utilities. |
| ▪ | Loans may be forgiven, up to an amount equaling eligible payroll, mortgage interest, rent and utility cost, incurred during the eight-week period starting from the loan origination. Compensation in excess of $100,000 a year to any individual will not qualify for forgiveness. Additionally, loan forgiveness is reduced by layoffs or pay reductions in excess of 25 percent, and loan forgiveness is not treated as taxable income. |
Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance
| ▪ | Eligibility: Advances are available to small businesses, sole proprietors, independent contractors, tribal businesses, as well as cooperatives and employee-owned businesses in operation on January 31, 2020. |
| ▪ | For those that apply for the EIDL, an advance of up to $10,000 will be provided to small businesses within several days of applying for the loan. |
| ▪ | The advance does not need to be repaid, even if the grantee is subsequently denied an EDL. |
| ▪ | Funds can be used to provide paid sick leave to employees, maintain payroll, meet increased production costs due to supply chain disruptions, or pay business obligations, including debts, rent, and mortgage payments. |
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
| ▪ | Eligibility: Businesses with 500 employees or fewer. This includes sole proprietorships, independent contractors, cooperatives, ESPOs, and tribal small businesses with <= 500 employees. |
| ▪ | Up to $2 million can be provided to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met if the disaster did not occur. |
| ▪ | Loans can be made based solely on credit scores. |
| ▪ | The interest rate on EIDLs will be 3.75 percent interest rate for small businesses. |
| ▪ | The first twelve payments will be deferred and not become due until one year after the original disbursement. Interest does not accrue during this time. |
| ▪ | The term of these loans will be up to thirty years. |
7(a) Loan Payment Relief
SBA will pay the principal, interest, and any associated fees owed on 7(a) loans as follows:
| ▪ | Existing borrower not on deferment: six months beginning with the next payment due on the loan; |
| ▪ | Existing borrower on deferment: six months of payments beginning with the next payment due on the loan after the deferment period; and |
| ▪ | New borrower: six months of payments beginning with the first payment due on the loan, but only for new loans made within the first six months starting from the date of enactment. |
Should you need assistance, the UGA Small Business Development Center offices across the state are open and available. Contact information for every office is available HERE.
Earlier today Kemp released details on Medicaid and Peachcare waiver.